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Author Topic: Swelling on bowling thumb  (Read 20877 times)

MDS826

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Swelling on bowling thumb
« on: December 11, 2012, 08:00:42 PM »
Recently my thumb has been swelling up alot lately.  I got my thumb hole re-drilled and opened up and it worked for 2 nights.  The next week it swelled up again to the point where the thumb didnt fit into the newly redrilled thumb hole.

Here's a pic comparing both my right (normal thumb) to my left (not-so normal thumb)
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q799/MDS826/photo.jpg

Any ideas on what caused this and what I should do?

Thanks,

MDS

 

Rightycomplex

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2012, 09:01:25 PM »
Your bending your thumb and grabbing the ball creating a lot of friction in the thumb. The more friction the more damage you do to the thumb. Keep your thumb straight in the ball and make the hole as tight as you can stand. Once you learn to release the ball better the thumb will heal and go down.
Things to consider:
*Drilling an oval thumb hole to fit your thumb specifically.
*Checking the thumb pitches to ensure it allows you to release the ball without grabbing
*Vise thumb tape to cut down on the friction from the release.
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scotts33

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2012, 11:48:38 PM »
Quote
*Drilling an oval thumb hole to fit your thumb specifically.
*Checking the thumb pitches to ensure it allows you to release the ball without grabbing

Thumb and finger pitches and span.  Loose thumb etc etc.  Most bowlers have never felt correct fit.
Scott

LuckyLefty

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2012, 12:03:27 PM »
Horrific.  It has taken years to get to that point!

From Jayhawk
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fitting.html

Next to the bottom picture.  Clearly you have an oval thumb in a too tight from (side to side) round hole.

Two solutions.  Drill Oval as above.  Or get a bigger round(to accomodate your side to side thumb measurement) and then add a lot of tape front to back.

Soak it in cider!

REgards,

Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

Coach Bonesaw

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2012, 12:37:44 PM »
I had a similar problem with my thumb. The oval-drilled hole really helps.
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BOWLGNUT

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2012, 07:45:20 PM »
I had a problem like yours but with tearing my knuckle up. So I went with a 45 degree drilling with oval shape. But I end up at 43 degree which helps a lot. Ask your pro shop and see if that will work for you.
I hate ten pins but love the game of bowling with just the right ball to take them out.

Cyril The Syrup

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2012, 07:59:02 PM »
Quote
So I went with a 45 degree drilling with oval shape.

Bowlgnut...can you explain what 45 dgree drilling is?

J_Mac

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2012, 08:08:11 PM »
Quote
So I went with a 45 degree drilling with oval shape.

Bowlgnut...can you explain what 45 dgree drilling is?

This basically indicates that the wide measurement of the oval thumb hole is set at 45° to the grip line running from between the finger holes to the center of the thumb hole.

Cyril The Syrup

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2012, 08:20:11 PM »
Quote
This basically indicates that the wide measurement of the oval thumb hole is set at 45° to the grip line running from between the finger holes to the center of the thumb hole.

Thanks jmac

abrown

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2012, 08:52:46 PM »
you may also want to go see a dr had a friend wos humb started doing that only to find out it was the onset of RA depending on your age. but i wouldalso say go to a different shop and gt a opinion cause your knuckle shouldnt look like that

trekbowl300

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2012, 10:46:39 PM »
As stated above you should get your thumb hole redrilled to fit better.  I also recently started to get swelling on the left side of my thumb.  After years of never having any problems it just seem to start for no reason. 

However, after checking my thumb was one inch wide left to right however from nail side to pad it was only 3/4 of an inch.  Using tape on my thumb would show rub marks where it was rubbing and where it ended on the side was where I started getting the swelling.

After getting the thumb hole made into an oval my thumb swelling went down because I must not be bending my thumb trying to hold on with a hole fit for the sides not nail to pad which was to big.

I also had my angle checked from the mid grip line to the angle where the sides of my thumb touched the sides of the thumb hole and it was 65 degrees, so everyone may be different. This was checked because I was having an interchangeable thumb unit installed so I could move the thumb hole unit from ball to ball and always have the same exact hole and fit.  It has helped the swelling go away because the hole is now an oval and it just fits better and helps keep my thumb straight, no wiggle room to knuckle the ball and cause problems.

Good luck.

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: Swelling on bowling thumb
« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2012, 10:58:35 PM »
Good grief, man!  Didn't you notice that your thumb didn't look like the other bowlers' thumbs, let alone the difference between your two hands?  Follow the advice given.  Go to somebody that knows how to drill oval and tapered thumb holes.  There are very few thumbs (I'd say none) that are perfectly cylindrical shaped from nail to base where it joins the hand.
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

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